Shephard's Alley

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Oboe advocates Carpet-Time

It's nice to relax for a change.
Happy Weekend, Everyone! :)

~Shephard

Labels: Cats: Oboe

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Post Osc*r Post

NO CAMERAS ALLOWED.

F*ck.

How is a boy supposed to capture his very first Osc*r experience?? Sigh. Thank god for the low-res camera in my iPh*ne! Join me for a slightly blurry tour of our evening.

...which started with Champagne in the limo (thanks to our friend, Clark and his sister Courtney, our limo-mates...he's also the producer of the movie). The limo made its way to Hollywood's K*dak Theater, and once within fan-stalking distance, the streets were barricaded in a zigzag fashion to prevent any car from driving in a straight line. Windows were rolled down and trunks were checked, and it was confirmed that our limo was in no such posession of heretofore rumored plans to kidnap Mr. Affleck.

~~We took a helicopter ride and I got this great shot~~ Ok, I snagged this from the TV. But it really is the best way to see what The Red Carpet looks like, since I wasn't allowed to snappity snap with a real camera.

Even in the shot above, you can't see the beginning.... a LARGE tent that we disappeared into after de-limoing... what is inside the tent? airport-grade METAL DETECTORS. THEN we bottle-necked out onto the broad carpet, shoulder-to-shoulder with N*talie P*ortman and M*rissa T*mei and J*mes Fr*nco and R*bert D*wney Jr and B*yonce. Yeah. Strange. And I feel dirty just repeating it, like I'm name-dropping. lol But they were all there next to us, taking their turns in front of the same photographers and reporters.

I actually took this with my iPh*ne!! Surprised how well it turned out. But to be honest, at this point, I wasn't even sure I was allowed to, so I was being VERY careful. So noone of any renown is in this shot (on purpose).

Once you enter through the giant curtain....

...you proceed toward the big staircase. This area you're looking at is actually a 5-story mall when not in use by The Osc*rs. They hide all the storefronts with red curtains to make it look more like a theatre lobby! Again, wasn't even sure I was allowed to be snapping this, but if there's ever a next time, I won't be so careful. I promise. :)

...and back to a shot I snapped off the TV. I was actually getting texts during the show (which I only answered during commerical breaks), trying to tell people WHERE we were sitting. Several friends said they spotted us. But above, you can see us, we're exactly 10 rows back, dead center. And that's J*nnifer An*ston & J*ck Bl*ck during our category.

But it was easiest spotting us during the scr**nwriting cat*gory... if you knew what we looked like. I actually love this shot because it shows all the nominees and St*ve & T*na (one of our favorite parts of the evening).

The entire br*adcast was one of the most enjoyable I can remember... being there during the musical numbers was a lot of fun. We really were swept up in the energy of it all. I have to say that LIVE, the musical numbers all sounded better. And H*gh was great... he'd come out and talk to the audience and tell stories during commercials. At one point, he brought his wife (3 seats in front of me) some cookies... he said she had texted him "Good job honey. I'm hungry" (lol).

The evening flew by, and before we knew it we were at The G*vernor's Ball... governor as in B*ard of G*vernors for the Ac*demy, NOT The Governator of California (oy). This not so little venue sits ontop of The K*dak Theatre like a crown, it's own little building almost. Upon entering, I was given a choice... Champagne or a Cosmo (guess which one I chose, Sandra?).

The tables blew me away. The whole place had been redecorated from the last time we'd seen it (for the B*lt Wrap Party). Fresh flowers and beautiful lanterns for what the designer called an "East Meets West" motif. I've seen a lot of table decor... this was beautiful without being stuffy. Wanna see the menu? I thought you would.

(zoom in if you want to read)

Asian Vegetable Salad ... almost too pretty to eat... and that's Maine lobster and caviar on top.

It was so pretty, I have two photos. My cell phone does NOT do the colors justice... it was very colorful!!

We had the Vegetable Risotto with Black Winter Truffles instead of the short-ribs, and it was fantastic. And I will also admit to traveling to the sushi bar for fresh sushi. :) The white wine they served smelled like sweet flowers... not kidding... roses maybe...

This is dessert. All edible. All chocolate.

You open the sugar boxes to reveal sorbets and cookies and yummy things I couldn't identify. The Osc*r on top... solid dark chocolate dusted with edible gold paint.

Here's the one shot of part of the room that turned out... that's the bandstand and singers... high above everyone... and this shot was taken on the second level as well.

We weren't sure what to expect from The Osc*rs. I can tell you they are less personal and it's harder to actually see and interact with celebs than it was at The GG's. The GG's red carpet is much more fun. Oh, and sadly... it was proclaimed that there was no Osc*r Swag this year because of the EC (my eyes rolled back into my head when I found out the "economic crisis" already had a nickname). Well.. we did get a little turquoise box filled with cards.... each card respresented visually the nominations for the evening, which is a really nice idea.

We didn't care. We had a blast. And then we had to call for our limo. Oddly enough, once again, we were standing next to the two young kids from Slumdog waiting for limos, just like after the GG's. I guess we share the same party-threshold they do.

Well, this photo isn't from the Osc*rs, it's from the N*minees Luncheon, but you get the idea. We were pretty happy. :) More so to have shared the amazing evening with Clark & Courtney.

After 2 weddings, 2 wrap parties, 2 premieres, 3 press events, a 2-week press-junket in Europe, 5 awards shows, a luncheon, a symposium and 8 manditory parties... all of which we had to have clothes for.... we're plumb tuckered!! But I sense that our life has now been returned to its regularly scheduled programming.

Farking Hallelujah.

~Shephard :)

Labels: Oscars, Post Oscar Post

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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Golly Would Like to Thank the Academy....

(shhhh... don't tell him it's not real... he was so upset about not being invited!)

~S

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Friday, February 20, 2009

Our Osc*r Experiences

Since I won't be able to take photos at the Osc*rs Red C*rpet (unlike the G*lden Gl*bes, who didn't care)... this will be my official Osc*r post, I'm afraid.

The whole process began when B found out he was nominated... we were in Barcelona, inside El Pilau de la Musica Catalana (a gorgeous opera house). The overseas phone intervies began as soon as B was free of the tour. Publications like V*riety and H*llywood Reporter always want to know "Where were you when you heard the news?" Who would have dreamed we'd say "Barcelona."

While we were in Europe for the Press Junket, we got a registered package with tons of info and invites and congrats. . .

The first event was the special N*minees Luncheon, held ironically in the identical ballroom at the B*verly Hilton where the G*lden Gl*bes were held.

Of course there was a press-line to navigate before going in.... (though they really only wanted photos of the celebrities... who can blame them).

All nominees are not only invited, but it was made clear that all nominees are equal... there are no special tables, and seating was mixed randomly, actors with writers with directors with producers with whomever! Very democratic.

Unless you're M*ck*y Ro*rke, in which case, you can choose not to sit at S & B's table, and you then stand at the far side of the room, leaving your spot at the table empty (aok with me). Little did any of us know there was a V*RIETY writer at our table who didn't so much like Mr. Ro*rke's "too hip for the room" attitude (maybe he's just shy?). The article appeared the next day, mentioning everyone else at the table by name [including B], and how nice they were, and what a shame Ro*rke was too good to sit with us. How very Hollywood! Our first snubbing! Nice to be included with the rest! lol

Here's the group shot I took... they actually have all nominees come down and stand on risers for a group shot (yes, B is in there!). They even sent us a copy of the photo! If you have good eyes... you can spot Robert Downey Jr., Kate Winslet, Ann Hathaway and the aforementioned, among others.

After the group shot, each is called up alphabetically to accept his Certificate of N*mination, which I'd show you if I could find... at the moment I have it some place safe (my office is so disorganized).

Food was great, everyone (except Ro*rke) was lovely and kinda and fun to chat with. The tone of the luncheon: you all should be proud of yourselves and each other, and grateful to be included in a very select group chosen by your peers. In that moment, everyone was equal.

I loved being able to get close to the giant statues and take photos. :)

The next event was the Academy Symp*sium honoring the An*mted Fe*ture N*minees! What a great opportunity to hear the directors of these films talk about their experiences.

This involved an audience of 500 (free tickets), who got to watch clips from the 3 nominated movies (shown on the program above), along with interviews and a Q&A with the directors.
Oh... and this was the very first symp*sium for An*mated Fe*tures, a tradition everyone hopes continues. (These symposiums spotlight about 8 of the n*minated categories for The Osc*rs... really cool idea).

Here's what was messengered to us today:

The Tickets. They actually printed a monetary value on them. I almost swallowed my tongue. Had no idea.

And tickets to The G*vernor's B*ll afterwards.

So all of this is very glamourous and exciting and frankly we don't know what to make of it all. We have two more parties and another awards show (!) to attend before we even get to The Osc*rs. Busy weekend. Oh, and I'm wearing a purple tie, and I don't care if it does say black! :)

But when they say it's an honor to be n*minated. . . I get it now. Not because it's prestigious (the reason most people think)... because you get to celebrate the years of hard work and share the camaraderie of so many others who did the same thing. The Academy said there were 14 films in the running for An*mted Fe*ture N*mination this year. They chose 3 films. B*lt was one of them. We're truly blown away and grateful.

Before all of you get too excited...

is it going to win the Osc*r for B*st An*mated Fe*ture? Not a chance, lol. How do I know this? Because every critic in Hollywood fell all over themselves in high praise of another film in the category. It's unnanimous. It's one of the categories that's pretty much cut-and-dired this year. Do we mind or care? Not in the least. If you want to know who we think should win, I've all but said it in other posts. :) But ten years from now, if people are still enjoying these films, THAT is what matters. B makes films for the audiences, not the critics and voters. And we couldn't be happier to be along for this amazing ride, sharing it with other film-makers and their families.

Golly on the other hand has a good pout on because he found out The Academy didn't invite him. I bet he'd like to give M*ck*y Ro*rke a choice word or two.

~Shephard :)

Labels: Oscars

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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Barthelona, Beauty by the Sea

To put it into a limited American perspective... Barcelona reminded me of a combination of San Francisco & Boston, yet with the stunning architecture of St. Augustine. Oh, and great food, friendly people and shopping.

Our hotel was above the Gothic District (Bari Gothic)... Casa Fuster. It's just fun to say. It was very nice, and they were so friendly. We flew in from Paris, and didn't waste a moment getting out there into the city to explore!

The city has always taken great care to make sure the buildings are works of art. The building above is covered with Asian umbrellas and has a dragon on the corner (not visible in this shot, but I'll show you later). You just never know what building is going to greet you around each corner of this beautiful city.

Know how to tell a tourist in Barcelona? They're the ones gaping at the buildings. You can't help it.

(zoom in to see the details)

This mosaic is at the top of the previous building... I couldn't believe my wimpy zoom captured it. It's St. George, patron saint of Barcelona, I believe... he and that dragon are all over Barcelona.

I love Egyptian stuff.... loved this random building decoration...

Apparently they were encouraging the adoption of free bubble-children, but we would have had to deal with customs, and I knew I was going to have a hard enough time getting all my scarves from Paris in the suitcase....

I was shocked to see this little bridge... it reminds me so much of The Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy...

Gargoyles...

They were renovating a very large gothic cathedral, La Seu... so I don't have photos of the front... but here we are on the roof!! What a view. Zoom in... it's just a make-shift metal walkway along the dragon's back... a little scary.

Interior was very gothic... very cavernous...

And they had a tropical cloiser full of geese. Honkity honk.

We walked Las Ramblas... the main thoroughfare, heading down to the port and just enjoyed all the architecture.

Just a cool shot, I thought. I didn't see the butterfly until I got home.

Barcelona is a very modern city, and can keep up with the best of them. For this reason, it's the best of both worlds, the old with the new.

The contrast of a giant underwear ad next door to one of the most famous Gaudi buildings was hard to embrace, however. Really.. the underwear model was impossible to embrace.

After a day of exploring, we returned to Hotel Casa Fuster (just fun to say) for what turned out to be an elegant meal. Don't let the unusual artsy appearance fool you... the food was delicious.

I feel badly... but I forgot to write down exactly what these things are. All of them. lol. I don't remember what we ate, but the entire meal was devine. Above is some sort of veggie squash mousse thingy and a spongy pastry with savery filling. I do remember we ate the centerpiece... a coral-looking flatbread in a vase of nuts... we weren't even sure we were supposed to eat it at first, but we were so freakin' hungry!

It's seafood... I remember that. Yummy.

Artfully yummy salad.

Well, that's hammy bacony stuff with breads and seafoody things. Ack. I wish I'd written them down. I remember the waiter bringing a big glass squat-looking vase that he swirled the red wine around in for a bit, to force it to breathe, then he poured from the fat vase. Yeah. I guess I haven't been to a restaurant where wine was treated so reverantly. I just wondered how many times he splashed wine out of the big glass vase before he got the hang out of it.

This was amazing... lobster... or is it crab? Crab. No lobster. But it was on a bed of paella... the sauce was to die for.

No, that's not a tongue... it's Modern Art Dessert ala chocolate mousse cake. And that was mango ice cream with a chocolately crispy cookie.

And this was a cheesecakey thingy with fruity flavors.

Stop please, we're stuffed!! Oh there's more? Dried sugary fruits and cinnamony pastry thingys. The restaurant menu was loaded with thingies. It was such a nice meal. And... because it was off season (cold January)... we had the ENTIRE restaurant to ourselves... quiet, peaceful, lovely.

The next day... the mother of all tourist destinations in Barcelona... Sagrada Familia (Sacred Family)... the cathedral designed by famous architect and artist, Antoni Gaudi (1852 - 1926).

The cathedral, as with all his wildly creative architecture, is very organic and curvy and looks as if it's both decaying and growing at the same time. The cathedral has been under construction for over 100 years. It still has another 20 years to go. See that bridge with the guy sitting on it? Remember that. It's about 200 feet up.

He worked on it for 40 years of his life... and only got to see 4 of the 18 towers completed.

The style is very blocky and curvy and organic. Some people seem to hate it, saying it's not reverent enough for a cathedral... but the designs are all based on nature, and what could be closer to divinity than nature?

Hammer hammer, saw saw... that's what you hear inside... but it's awe-inspiring.

Gold striations on the ceiling. . . and the stained glass throws lovely rainbows...

Zoom in... it's gorgeous... my camera tended to blow out all the yellows... the real stained glass was more colorful than these photos indicate.

We stood in line to take the tiny 6-person elevator up ONE of the spiring towers. Poor B didn't realize... that the only way down... was to cross a bridge between two very HIGH towers to get to the down-stairs! Every once in a while, you got a glimpse of something through stone portals in the staircase.

The view from the top... both of the city and of the cathedral under construction.

Look familiar? Yep. 200 or more feet up.

You're looking toward the ocean at "The Gerkin"... that's what they call that office building. We didn't make it to The Gerkin this trip.

The three of us made a pact to return in 20 years to see the completed cathedral. My photos really don't do it justice. There was also a museum, and you could tour ....

And you could see the plaster shop, where every intricate detail of the massive cathedral is created first in miniature. There are currently 8 towers, I think... there will be 18.